Information on the elections process, and campaigning rules & regulations.

On this page

• Introduction
• What's next?
• Publicity
• Question time
  
• Campaign week
• Voting days

Introduction

This part of the guide is aimed at helping you once all the paperwork is completed and nominations are closed. Most candidates get a bit lost and confused after they have completed all the paperwork and feel as if they should be doing something.

What’s next?

There will an informal Question and Answer session held with the existing sabbatical Team – a good opportunity to find out what the job really involves on a day to day basis. There will also be a compulsory candidates meeting. (Check Part 2: Schedule of Dates for more details). The candidate meeting is your major chance to find out what the election rules are, who the other candidates are and how the election process works from here on in. Here you will meet all the people who can help you out during the election process and who is in charge of making sure we all play by the same rules.

Publicity

There are designated areas where candidates can put their posters, this will be discussed at the Candidates Meeting, following their collection at the designated time. Again these dates can be found in Part 2: Schedule of Dates. Candidates are not allowed to put posters outside of the designated areas and are not allowed to reproduce any of their publicity. Candidates should try and cover as many student focused areas as possible to ensure maximum coverage of their campaign.

Question Time

Most of the protocol surrounding hustings is covered in the Part 7: Question Time Guide. It’s advisable that candidates bring as many of their campaign team as possible to support their Question Time as it can seem daunting at first. It’s also beneficial for candidates to support the other candidates as it will not only show you what is about to come for you but it shows support to your possible team mates.

Campaign week

It is essential that the following rules are observed during campaigning. Failure to observe rules may result in expulsion from the elections.

Candidates will not be allowed to

• Use Megaphones
• Send unsolicited e-mails
• Use chalk/paint etc on any Union, University, Council or other property
• Stick any stickers to Union, University, Council or other property
• Use or display any campaign materials before the approved date.

Social networking sites

• Using these sites to campaign is allowed, and normal election conduct applies
• You must invite the user "UPSU Observer" to any Facebook site/event/group that you have.

Current Sabbatical officers

• May not use any facility that your position gives you special access to, including e-mail lists and office space.
• Must not use any paid working time on their election campaign, holiday must be taken.

Voting Days

The most important thing about the voting days is ensuring that your campaign team is at all the ballot stations.

Locations of the ballot stations and the times that they are in operation are all found on the voting information page.